Jason Chaffetz says members of Congress should get financial assistance for housing

[Travis B]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/27/politi...nor/index.html

Rep. Jason Chaffetz thinks members of Congress should receive a housing stipend, saying in an interview that Washington "is one of the most expensive places in the world" as he pointed to "dozens" of members who live out of their offices.

"I think a $2,500 housing allowance would be appropriate and a real help to have at least a decent quality of life in Washington if you're going to expect people to spend hundreds of nights a year here," the Utah Republican told The Hill. "There are dozens upon dozens of members living in their offices, and I don't know how healthy that is long-term."

Chaffetz made the suggestion as he prepares to leave office, having announced he would resign at the end of June.

"I really do believe Congress would be much better served if there was a housing allowance for members of Congress," he said. "In today's climate, nobody's going to suggest or vote for a pay raise. But you shouldn't have to be among the wealthiest of Americans to serve properly in Congress."
Chaffetz -- who said he sleeps in his office whenever he's in Washington -- noted, "I flat-out cannot afford a mortgage in Utah, kids in college and a second place here in Washington, DC."

Members of Congress receive an official salary of $174,000 (leadership positions receive a slightly higher salary of $193,000). A report from the Center for Responsive Politics estimated that the median net worth of a member of Congress was about $1.1 million in 2014 (the most recent year for which data was calculated).

This is quite comical coming from the guy who said that if Americans have trouble affording healthcare, they should give up their iPhones. Perhaps he should look into selling his house in Utah and moving into a more affordable home if he has trouble meeting expenses.

[vhatever]

I prefer a little extra virtue signalling with my nothing burgers.

[unfilteredJW]

I prefer a little extra virtue signalling with my nothing burgers.

Thanks for the drive by vomiting of buzzwords.

[Noxx79]

I prefer a little extra virtue signalling with my nothing burgers.

yes, you should stop coming into these threads and virtue signal.

[Daelak]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/27/politi...nor/index.html




This is quite comical coming from the guy who said that if Americans have trouble affording healthcare, they should give up their iPhones. Perhaps he should look into selling his house in Utah and moving into a more affordable home if he has trouble meeting expenses.

Instead of housing stipends, why don't we increase the amount of representatives in the HoR tenfold, then make them represent from their communities by doing their daily work at home and fly in or vote online for busy voting weekends. There is no legitimate reason we should be increasing their quality of life when their approval ratings are down, and while their respective power is being magnified due to their own unwillingness to increase representation since the great depression.

[vhatever]

Thanks for the drive by vomiting of buzzwords.

Welcome, I do my best to give your life meaning.

[unfilteredJW]

I do my best to give your life meaning.

Egoism of the highest caliber I see.

[Garnier Fructis]

A base salary of $174,000, and they're living out of their offices?

And an extra $2500 (per year? per month?) is going to fix it? What a joke.

[I Push Buttons]

A base salary of $174,000, and they're living out of their offices?

And an extra $2500 (per year? per month?) is going to fix it? What a joke.

Not to mention there are only a handful of congressmen and like two or three senators who aren't already rich.

[Siraeyou]

A base salary of $174,000, and they're living out of their offices?

And an extra $2500 (per year? per month?) is going to fix it? What a joke.

That would be per month. What he is suggesting is something along the lines of BAH for military personnel where they receive a tax exempt allotment monthly to help pay for living expenses while displaced.

Personally I find it hard to believe that if he thinks that he needs and extra $2.5k per month to get by with his salary there are a few in home budget changes he could make to easily find the extra money.

[cubby]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/27/politi...nor/index.html




This is quite comical coming from the guy who said that if Americans have trouble affording healthcare, they should give up their iPhones. Perhaps he should look into selling his house in Utah and moving into a more affordable home if he has trouble meeting expenses.

The argument for paying our leaders more is very valid - it's just comical when deplorable people like Chaffetz advocate for it. The idea is that talent follows money - so we pay out people more - across the board - and we get better people in office.

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That would be per month. What he is suggesting is something along the lines of BAH for military personnel where they receive a tax exempt allotment monthly to help pay for living expenses while displaced.

Personally I find it hard to believe that if he thinks that he needs and extra $2.5k per month to get by with his salary there are a few in home budget changes he could make to easily find the extra money.

I know you're going to kill me for this, but $174k doesn't go as far as it used to, if you're living the middle class lifestyle. Plus maintaining two homes.

Kids, childcare, student loans, mortgage, etc. I know what the counter argument is, so don't beat me over the head with it too much, but raising their salaries/benefits does have long-term gains.

[Theinquisition]

No.

How about more telecommuting. I don't see any reason why congress can't complete it's work through teleconferencing.

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No.

How about more telecommuting. I don't see any reason why congress can't complete it's work through teleconferencing.

[cubby]

I would be all in favor of significantly raising the salaries of most high ranking political officials so as to attract real talent but only after you implement an absolute cap on campaign contributions received.

Unfortunately, you won't get the talented people with the moral courage to do what's right for the country in the long term UNLESS you start paying them money that brings in the talent.

You won't get a constitutional amendment on contribution caps (and that's what it will take now, after Citizens United) until you get good people in there.

[JohnBrown1917]

The argument for paying our leaders more is very valid - it's just comical when deplorable people like Chaffetz advocate for it. The idea is that talent follows money - so we pay out people more - across the board - and we get better people in office.

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I know you're going to kill me for this, but $174k doesn't go as far as it used to, if you're living the middle class lifestyle. Plus maintaining two homes.

Kids, childcare, student loans, mortgage, etc. I know what the counter argument is, so don't beat me over the head with it too much, but raising their salaries/benefits does have long-term gains.

You could also argue you don't want those who are in it for the money to do it. Our (democrat) socialist party actually caps the salaries of its members(senate, parliament and local) at 2.500 euro, the difference goes to the party itself.

[cubby]

You could also argue you don't want those who are in it for the money to do it. Our (democrat) socialist party actually caps the salaries of its members(senate, parliament and local) at 2.500 euro, the difference goes to the party itself.

"If you're good at something, never do it for free."

People go where the money is, for the most part, and money brings in talent. Pay Congress and the Executive Branch more $$$ and you'll see talented people come in.

[Poopymonster]

Roommates! Let's put 2 or 4 of them in a 2 or 4 bedroom apartment, they can split the costs and everything! Just like they expect us peons to.

[zhero]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/27/politi...nor/index.html




This is quite comical coming from the guy who said that if Americans have trouble affording healthcare, they should give up their iPhones. Perhaps he should look into selling his house in Utah and moving into a more affordable home if he has trouble meeting expenses.

they should probably do their job at least 5 days a week all year before asking for a raise.

[JohnBrown1917]

"If you're good at something, never do it for free."

People go where the money is, for the most part, and money brings in talent. Pay Congress and the Executive Branch more $$$ and you'll see talented people come in.

And you also increase the chances of them not having a solid ideology. I mean, its good for right wing parties, but left wing parties should not welcome them, imo.

[Stop Pretending]

Welcome, I do my best to give your life meaning.

How can you give one's life meaning, when your own has none?

[Azadina]

Roommates! Let's put 2 or 4 of them in a 2 or 4 bedroom apartment, they can split the costs and everything! Just like they expect us peons to.

It's funny how they imagine min wage workers to get by without any assistance, because welfare is bad, but here they are asking for welfare themselves while making 5-10 times what min wage workers do.